HC Deb 26 April 1978 vol 948 cc1351-3
1. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of President Carters decision to defer development of the neutron bomb, he will make it his policy that in no circumstances will Great Britain consent to the storing or deployment of neutron bombs in Great Britain.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Dr. David Owen)

President Carter has made it clear that his ultimate decision will depend on how the Russians respond to his call for them to show restraint in their arms programmes and force deployments. The Government support this position. No question of storing or deploying the neutron bomb therefore arises at this time.

Mr. Jenkins

I am glad to hear that from the Secretary of State. I am sure that many of us on the Government Benches will agree that he should be encouraged to continue to resist the pressure put upon him by the Opposition to agree to the development of this nuclear weapon—a weapon which would have only disastrous consequences, resulting in national suicide and a possible end to European civilisation. Although President Carter has said that the Soviet decision not to proceed with the neutron bomb is not a matter of significance, does not my right hon. Friend recognise that if the Soviet Union, depressed by this response, were to decide to develop the neutron bomb, both he and the President would regard it as a matter of considerable significance? In view of that, will my right hon. Friend welcome the Soviet decision now?

Dr. Owen

I do not hold the same view as my hon. Friend about the significance of the neutron bomb. I believe that it is a development of an existing weapons system. I think that it was a balanced judgment and a right judgment not to deploy it at present, because the Soviet Union had attached a great deal of importance to it. Much of this, I believe, was propaganda, but the fact that the Russians had attached importance to it meant that we had to take it into account in creating the right climate for disarmament this year with the United Nations' Special Session. I am hopeful that it will contribute to improving the climate for disarmament.

Mr. Speaker

I must appeal to hon. Members not to ask long supplementary questions.

Mr. Pattie

Does not the Secretary of State think it odd that his hon. Friends who are campaigning against the neutron bomb are campaigning against a smaller, cleaner nuclear weapon? Therefore, may we infer that they are in favour of bigger and dirtier weapons? Will the Foreign Secretary confirm that the neutron bomb is, in fact, an anti-tank weapon, and that there is therefore no question of its ever being deployed in the United Kingdom?

Dr. Owen

It is true that the main military argument for deploying the neutron bomb is that it would deter a concentration of tanks. That is the main significance of the military argument. I think that the arguments about clean and dirty bombs are very difficult. None of us wants to see nuclear weapons deployed, ever but we must recognise that this is part of our system of deterrents, and, while it is, we must look at the modernisation of the weapons system. At this moment I believe that both qualitatively and quantitatively any increases in nuclear weapons should be avoided.

Mr. George Rodgers

Does my right hon. Friend agree that possession of a neutron bomb, by its very nature, would imply that we were committed to first use of nuclear weapons in the event of conflict? Is this not a horrifying prospect, and will he bear it in mind in future discussions?

Dr. Owen

My hon. Friend has put his finger on the main argument against the neutron bomb, which is the question whether it would reduce the nuclear threshold. That is a serious argument. A lot of what is being said about the actual technical arrangements of the bomb is not so serious. Personally, I think that the whole question of first use of nuclear weapons is a very delicate decision, which could only ever be taken under strict political control.

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

Will the Secretary of State condemn the action of France in going ahead with the neutron bomb? Is he prepared to make a clear condemnation today?

Dr. Owen

As I understand it, the French have categorically denied that they have let off a neutron bomb, or that they have any intention of so doing.

Mr. John Davies

Will the Foreign Secretary say whether he thinks that the European Powers have adequately expressed their views to the United States on this major subject? Bearing in mind that, as has been said, the neutron bomb represents a potentially very important defence weapon against an overwhelming build-up of conventional armaments by the Soviet Union on the central European front, which directly affects the interests of Europeans, have he and his colleagues in Europe adequately briefed the United States on their views?

Dr. Owen

There was the closest consultation on this, and over quite a long period of months. The final decision was taken by the President, as was inevitably right, and I think that in taking that decision he was influenced by the feeling that there was a more optimistic climate for disarmament measures. I share that optimism. I believe that 1978 will see a SALT II agreement and a comprehensive test ban agreement, and I am also hopeful that we shall have progress in the MBFR talks in Vienna.